Light schedule allows Derby-contender debate

Ralph Siraco

Tuesday, Feb. 18, 1997 | 11:59 a.m.

There will be a light schedule of racing today in Las Vegas race books because of the special holiday Monday programs that were presented on Presidents' Day. As a result, most notable are New York and California racing.

In California this year, when a sixth holiday program is presented on Monday (a usual dark racing day), then the following Wednesday will be dark to allow for the limited horse population to fill fields on a five-day-per-week basis.

* Tracking some Derby hopefuls:

Pulpit, the Frank Brothers-trained sensation passed test No. 2 last week with flying colors. The Claiborne Farm son of A.P. Indy rolled to a two-turn allowance victory on Feb. 8 at Gulfstream Park and is headed next to Saturday's Fountain of Youth Stakes at the same South Florida track.

This 1-1/16-mile steppingstone to the March 15 Florida Derby will also assemble other top Kentucky Derby candidates on the eastern circuit that include Nick Zito's Acceptable, Holy Bull Stakes winner Arthur L, the recent Team Valor purchase of Captain Bodgit, the improving Blazing Sword, Danka Tutcheson upset winner Frisk Me Now (who is currently not nominated for the Derby) and Ordway.

While the East Coast contingent prepares for competition, the western group continues to train for upcoming engagements at Santa Anita in preparation for the April 5 Santa Anita Derby.

The March 2 San Rafael Stakes serves as the next added-money event in the Santa Anita Derby series that also includes the March 16 San Felipe Stakes. Heading for the San Rafael are leading left-coast Derby hopeful Boston Harbor, the Eclipse Award and Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner, who disappointed in his sophomore debut in the Santa Catalina; he'll face San Vicente winner Silver Charm and Santa Catalina runner-up Bagshot.

Also ready for his first stakes appearance in the San Rafael is the much-acclaimed Mud Route. This Ron McAnally-trained colt will be ridden by jockey Chris McCarron, who has stacked up at least four Derby contenders this year.

In addition to Mud Route, McCarron is the rider of Hello and Silver Charm and most recently accepted to ride the aforementioned Team Valor acquisition of Captain Bodgit in his next start in Florida. McCarron, who won the 1987 Kentucky Derby on Alysheba and the 1994 edition with Go For Gin, is looking to add the Derby hat trick this year. As you likely remember, he almost got No. 3 last year with his 14th Derby mount Cavonnier, who just missed by a nose to winner Grindstone.

One shouldn't count out a filly this year either. Team Lukas has Sharp Cat in the barn, and the daughter of Storm Cat impressed with an easy victory in the Las Virgenes last weekend at Santa Anita. She is now six for eight lifetime and two for two this year. Remember, Lukas won his first Kentucky Derby with the filly Winning Colors in 1988 and is not shy to enter a contender of the opposite sex. Don't forget Serena's Song, who finished 16th in 1995.